Maffei Unlikely To Head DirecTV

Greg Maffei

A top Liberty Media executive tamped down speculation that company CEO Greg Maffei would shift over and take the top spot at DirecTV.

"To be honest with you, I think he's having too much fun with us," said William Fitzgerald, Liberty senior vice president. "And I'd be surprised if he found his way there."

At an investor event last week, Fitzgerald said an "external search" has been ongoing for five or six weeks to replace Chase Carey as head of the satellite provider. Carey moved to News Corp. Liberty controls 55% of DirecTV, which serves more than 18 million U.S. customers.

DirecTV executive vice president Larry Hunter has been serving as acting CEO.

Fitzgerald did say that if Maffei, who he acknowledged had expressed a previous interest in the DirecTV post, were to leave Liberty, the company has "bench strength" among its executive ranks.

Charles Tanabe, executive vice president and general counsel, has been with the company since 1999. David Flowers, senior vice president and treasurer, joined in 1995, while Christopher Shean, senior vice president and controller, came on board nine years ago. John Malone is chairman.

DirecTV, which has a significant Latin American business, posted a 9% increase in second-quarter revenues to $5.2 billion.

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